The Transition: Veteran Entrepreneurs

In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Dr David Dugan, founder of Abundance Global that provides business coaching services to help scale businesses, improve lives, and make an inspiring impact. 

After a 15 year career in the Navy as a dentist, which included a near-miss in the 2005 Nias Island helicopter disaster that claimed nine lives. This incident profoundly affected him, if it wasn't for a course he was shortly called to he would have been on that helicopter. At this point, David knew he wanted to start something that would leave an impact and allow him to stop trading time for money. 

Through the Abundance group David has worked with over 1000 businesses and as of this year seen an average increase of profit of 200% for his clients. 

Find out some of his biggest tips for success. 

In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Karl Schwantes, from Xennox Diamonds and 5 Star Google review. 

Karl has successfully built both businesses by focusing on and going above and beyond with customer experience using his motto to 'Surprise & Delight'. Generating over 1 mil in revenue last year using google reviews he believes intel is everything and that you should tailor every experience to that specific customer. 

If you are looking for different ways to generate leads listen to this now!

In this episode of the podcast, we speak with the founding Director of Gaardtech Steen Bisgard. Gaardtech creates and manufactures dynamic, live enemy robotic vehicles that can be destroyed (Yes, it is as cool as it sounds!!). 

As a tank commander, Steen identified early in his career that there was a huge disconnect between the way they trained at the range to real-time war-like situations - previously targets were static and often just barrels or boxes. A near miss during a training exercise confirmed this and so Gaardtech was born. 

Fast forward a few years and now Gaartech provides their products to not only the Australian Military but has expanded internationally as well. Using tech, innovation, and good old fashion hard work they have forced their way into the competitive Defence industry.

Find out how he did it. 

In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Steve Golding, CEO of Meeting Hub, an online platform that provides beautifully clever meeting room booking software. 

After living in London and working with SMB Steve identified an opportunity and upon moving back to Oz he founded Meeting Hub in 2013. Living and working from the mantra 'make everything beautiful simple' he has since gone from strength to strength. 

Steve is now living the dream and travels around Australia (currently only NSW) with his wife in Kenny the Coaster. All the while running a successful business.

Find out how he did it. 

In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Josh Forrest, owner-operator at Appliance Tagging Services, Townsville. 

Always with an entrepreneurial spirit, josh founded Tac Mud Kit's whiles in the military after he saw an opportunity. He would later go on and sell this business before discharging and believes that your plan for discharge should start immediately. 

Using Money he saved whilst in the military and cash he received from DVA he made the decision to purchase a Franchise in Townsville. Less than a year old, josh has tripled his revenue and kicking massive goals. 

Find out how he did it!

In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Micheal Lorrigan founder of Cafe 2/14, a chain and now a franchise of cafes located in Brisbane.

After a career as an Army Officer, he fell into the cafe business even though initially he had no idea how to make a coffee! This lack of technical knowledge however did not hold him back and in the space of 3 years, he has 5 cafes and 1 franchise up and running (This includes getting through COVID in the hospitality business).

Micheal, now a leader in his industry has succeeded through embracing the story, delivering with a sense of purpose and vision and removing himself from the day to day of the business.

Find out how he did it.

In this episode of the podcast, we speak with Ian Lindgren, Executive Director of the Pay Me Group, which includes payroll, recruitment, and novated lease services. Since his transition and establishment of his business in the early 2000s, he has grown it to become a company that consistently turns over 100 mil in revenue. 

After a medical discharge resulting from an infection received from a parasite whilst on a United Nations Deployment Ian accidentally fell into payroll and grown the business to be a powerhouse in Australia and oversees.  

The Pay Me Group was built around an emphasis on culture, opportunity, and scalability, ensuring he could maintain a growth rate at 25% at any time. 

Find out how he did it. 

In this episode of The Transition, we talk to one of our most amazing and inspiring guests, who as an Army psychologist conducted over 10 deployments, suffered PTSD, cervical cancer, and a nightmare surrogacy in Ukraine before returning to a business she established almost 5 years before. Meet Lou Pitcher from Own Mind who provides organisational psych training and executive coaching and wants to improve your mindset now.

Through all her experiences, Lou has this infectious positive attitude with a passion to help others. Listen in to hear how she persevered to always somehow get through what to many others would seem unimaginable. Lou also provides some amazing insights regarding mental health in business, staying focused, and escaping burnout. All things budding entrepreneurs need to hear!

In this episode, we speak to Sean O'Loughin from Emergency Australian who was a recent winner of the Prime Minster Veterans Employer of the Year - Small Business. 

Sean who started as a grunt (infantry soldier) had an amazing journey to transition to university where he saw an opportunity to start a business that provided immersive medical training and support to individuals and organisations. Sean has supported countless organisations and events and has prided himself on his mantra to hire veterans. Listen in if you want to find out tips and tricks to grow a training organisation or just to succeed in business. 

In the 5th episode of The Transition we speak with Emily and Adam Frizell from Aero PM. A husband and wife team, Emily founded the company several years ago and made the decision to bring her husband in as Managing Director. 

Since then they have gone from strength to strength dominating Defence Industry and growing to over 50 staff, (90% of which are veterans). Recently at the Prime Ministers Veteran Employment awards, they won not one but two awards; 

• Outstanding Veterans Employer of the Year
• Veteran Employer of the Year: Medium Business

Listen in to find out how they did it!